Handle soap sponge



Jufly 18, 1967 T. PAUL HANDLE SOAP SPONGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1965 INVENTOR TADEUSZ PAUL HATTURNEXV T. PAUL July 18, 1967 HANDLE SOAP SPONGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1965 INVENTOR. TADEUSZ PAUL 3,331,992 Patented July 18, 1967 hare 3,331,092 HANDLE SOAP SPONGE Tadeusz Paul, 2532 Ross Road, Silver Spring, Md. 20910 Filed Mar. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 436,518 Claims. (Cl. 15-542) The present invention relates to a handle sponge assembly of the type disclosed in my US. Patent 3,128,493 and in my copending US. application Serial No. 349,935, now US. Patent 3,187,365, and more particularly relates to certain improvements in the actuating means for disensing the liquid and in the sponge mounting means.

The handle soap sponge disclosed in my aforementioned prior patents includes a cap-like closure member of flexible material mounted over the open end of the main body to cause dispensing of the liquid from the reservoir within the main body by depressing the flexible cap-like closure member. During normal use in cleaning, for example, dishes, glasses, etc., when clasping the main body portion of the handle-sponge assembly of my invention with the fingers of the person using the same, the thumb of such person normally points toward the sponge end so that, to depress the flexible cap-like closure member to dispense soap, requires either a shifting in the manner of holding the handlesponge assembly to permit such person to depress the flexible cap-like closure member with the thumb of the same hand or the use of the other hand to depress the flexible cap-like closure member. In either case, it is not possible to continue normal use of the handle-sponge assembly while dispensing liquid from the reservoir. The modification in accordance with the present invention seeks to obviate this shortcoming by providing a novel and improved means to dispense the liquid soap or the like which is so located and contructed that it can be actuated by the users thumb with the hand in the normal position clasping the main body portion of the handle.

In my prior patents, the sponge forms a sub-assembly together with the sponge-supporting frame by means of which it is mounted over the sponge-receiving section. However, there exists the danger with this arrangement that the discharge bore for the liquid provided in the sponge-receiving section is obstructed by the sponge thereby impairing proper dispensing of the liquid soap. Additionally, only one discharge aperture for the liquid is provided in the construction of my prior patents. To improve the efiiciency of dispensing liquid soap, at least one or several additional flow channels or apertures are provided in accordance with the present invention through which the liquid soap can flow into the sponge in addition to the flow or discharge through the already present aperture. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a simple change in the cross section of the bottom portion of the sponge-supporting sleeve member and/or in the cylindrical walls of the sleeve member.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a handle-sponge assembly of the type described above which eliminates the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a handle soap sponge which facilitates use thereof, and in particular permits more easy dispensing of the liquid soap, detergent, or the like.

A further object of the present invention resides in a handle sponge assembly which assures a more free flow of the dispensed liquid.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a sponge supporting frame which not only permits the ready installation of the sponge but also facilitates mass production and assembly with the sponge while at the same time assuring a secure anchoring of the frame in the sponge.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a supporting frame for the sponge of handle-sponge assembly which assures a sufliciently free flow of the liquid such as soap, detergent, or the like dispensed by the device.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an axial longitudinal cross-sectional view through the main body portion of a sponge-handle assembly in accordance with the present invention, taken along line 11 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the main body portion of the sponge-handle assembly in accordance with the present invention, taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to FIGURE 1 and on an enlarged scale, illustrating certain details of the dispensing means in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a sponge supporting frame in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURES l and 4, with the spongesupporting frame mounted over the lower section of the main body portion,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of a sponge-supporting frame in accordance with the present invention with parts thereof broken away,

FIGURE 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective, exploded view showing the various parts of the sponge-receiving section in accordance with the present invention, in particular within the area of the liquid seal.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals of the 200 series are used throughout the various views to designate like parts corresponding to those of my aforementioned copending application, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 200 generally designates the main body member, made of appropriate relatively rigid plastic material such as, for example, polyethylene which comprises a cylindrical continuously tapering external wall 201 terminating in a bottom, spongereceiving handle section 204 and open at the upper end thereof. As before, the main body section 201 may be grooved externally in any conventional manner, for instance by a plurality of equi-spaced ribs. A cap-like closure member generally designated by reference numeral 210, constituted for example, by a knurled knob also of any suitable plastic material such as low-pressure polyethylene which is substantially rigid and inflexible, is suitably and detachably mounted and secured over the open end of the main body portion 201, for example, by engagement of internal threads provided within the closure member with external threads provided along the open end of the main body portion 201. Of course a suitable snap action connection may also be used to fasten to closure member 210 over the open end of the main body member 201.

Instead of dispensing the liquid by actuating the flexible cap-like member as in the case of my prior constructions, an actuating mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 260 (FIGURES 1 and 3) is provided at the main handle section 201 within a center area thereof-though its exact location depends on the overall length of the main body section 201, etc.-and located in such a manner that the person normally clasping with his or her fingers the main handle portion 201 is able to actuate the dispensing means 260 with the thumb of the same hand.

The dispensing or actuating mechanism 260 includes a boss portion 261 (FIGURES 1 and 3) projecting at an approximately right angle from the external surfaces of the main body portion 201 and of, for example, cylindrical configuration though of course any other suitable configuration may be used. A hat-like actuating member 262 forming a thumb-operated button which is spring-loaded by a coil spring 26111 or equivalent spring means is slidably received within the boss portion 261. The actuating member 262 is thereby of somewhat smaller diametric dimension than the boss 261 and is provided with a narrow outwardly extending annular flange portion 262' whose external diameter is such as to slidingly engage along the inner walls of the boss 261 to enable the necessary sliding movement for dispensing liquid. The boss 261 is provided with external threads 261 for engagement with the internal threads 263 provided in a nut-like securing element 263 having a central aperture 263" of such dimension as to slidably receive and guide the main portion of the actuating member 262. As is obvious, when the nutlike securing element 263 is screw-threaded over the boss 261, the actuating element 262 is limited in its outward movement by engagement of the outwardly extending annular flange 262 thereof with the annular butment surface 263a provided in the securing member 263. The boss 261 may be integrally formed with the main body portion 201 during molding thereof; the actuating element 262 as well as the securing element 263 may also be made, for instance, molded of any suitable material, such as low-pressure polyethylene. To assure a proper seal, a cap-like sealing member 264 is accommodated within the actuating mechanism, and more particularly on the inside of the actuating element 262. The cap-like sealing member 264 is thereby made of suitable flexible material, such as rubber, or the like, and of such configuration that its free end surfaces 264' remain in abutment under some pre-stress during all sliding movements thereof with the internal walls of the boss 261 to provide the required liquid-tight seal.

A passage 205, for example of circular or other appropriate cross section is effectively formed within the main body portion 201 by the inwardly extending lip portion 206 which extends from a point on the side of the actuating mechanism 260 opposite the open end of the end of the main body section 201 to near the open end of the main body section 201. As is clearly visible from FIGURE 1, the channel 205 provides a communication between the actuating mechanism 260 and the rear end of the reservoir formed within the main body portion so that upon depressing the actuating member 262, air under pressure is applied against the rear surface of the liquid column in the reservoir formed within the main body portion 201 and predetermined amounts of liquid are forced through the liquid seal and bores provided in the sponge-receiving bottom section of the assembly into the sponge as previously described.

Whereas the sleeve portion of my copending application included a web portion extending only from the upperend of the external casing to the rectangular aperture, the external sponge-supporting frame-like sleeve member 230 of the present invention includes a web portion 232 extending over hte entire length of the external sleeve member 230, interrupted only by the rectangular aperture 231. As before, the web portion 232 is connected with the otherwise circularly shaped base configuration of the external casing member 230 by means of side portions 233 and 234. The internal sleeve member 220 is provided in this case with outwardly projecting portions 224 and 225 (FIGURE 5) extending over the entire length thereof so that a longitudinal channel 229 is effectively provided through which liquid soap or the like can flow out of the bore 228 provided in the internal sleeve member 220 in the direction toward the bottom end into the sponge. Hence, the chances of obstructing the aperture 228 by misalignment of the sponge or the like would not prevent 4 the free flow of the liquid through the channel 229 into the sponge.

The elastic sponge supporting frame of FIGURES 4 and 5 generally designated by reference numeral 230 comprises additionally three anchoring webs generally designated by reference numerals 237a, 237b, and 237a to securely anchor the supporting frame 230 within the triangular sponge indicated in phantom lines by reference numeral 280 (FIGURE 5). Each web 237a, 237b, and 2370 thereby includes a plurality of radially extending spoke portions 237x1 237a 237b 237b of which two are used in the illustrated embodiment which are each interconnected by an axially extending web portion 237% 23717 etc., secured to the annular flange 238 provided at the top end of the sponge-supporting frame 230.

The supporting frame sleeve member 230 is thereby inserted into an appropriate bore provided within the sponge 280. In actual practice, however, a plurality of appropriately spaced sponge-supporting frames 230 are suitably mounted within a mold, the sponge material is then molded as a unitary sponge mass about the thus assembled supporting-frame members 230 whereupon the individual sponge-supporting frame sub-assemblies consisting, for example, of triangularly shaped spong 280 and sponge-supporting sleeve member 230 are cut out by appropriate means. A plurality of such sub-assemblies can thereby be made during each molding operation in an extremely simple manner.

Of course, it is understood that instead of a single rectangular aperture 231, a plurality of apertures spaced in the longitudinal and/or circumferential direction of any suitable configuration may be used. FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate a sponge-supporting frame-like sleeve member generally designated by reference numeral 330, again provided at one end with an annular flange 338 to which are connected a plurality, in the illustrated embodiment 3 anchoring webs generally designated by reference numerals 337a, 337b, and 337s. Each anchoring web is again constituted by a plurality of radial spoke portions inter:

connected by axially extending web portions secured to the flange 338 as in the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5. Within the area of the flange 338, the cylindrically shaped sleeve member is provided with internal threads 341 engaging with similarly shaped external threads provided within the area 204' indicated in FIGURE 1. However, in this case a recess (not shown) is provided similar to recess 107 of my US. Patent 3,187,365 to permit the admission of air for the outflow of the liquid through the discharge apertures and or channels provided within the sleeve member 330. Three circumferentially spaced apertures 331 are provided in the sleeve member 330 to permit the flow of the dispensed liquid in three directions into the sponge after it passes the seal and flows out through bore 228. To provide a seal at the bottom, i.e., downwardly of the apertures 331 as viewed in FIGURE 6, the walls of the sleeve member 330 may be slightly thickened as indicated "at 330 for example by a downwardly inwardly tapering surface portion so that in this area the thus thicker wall portion of the sleeve member 330 forms a liquid-tight seal with the complementarily shaped external surfaces of the inner sleeve member 220. Over the remaining portion, the walls of the sleeve member 330 at a slight distance inner sleeve member 220 The advantage of this construction is the fact that it cross sections of the parts as a circular cross section may be used for the inner sleeve member 220 and a circular cross section may be used for the sponge-supporting external sleeve member 330. Of course, again, the location, shape, and number of apertures 331 may vary within the scope of the present invention.

The sponge-supporting frame-like structure of FIG- URES 6 and 7 lends itself, like the corresponding structure of FIGURES 4- and 5 to mass production as a plurality of sub-assemblies can be readily made with each are spaced 1 from the external wall surfaces of the obviates the need for complicated i operation, requiring only the installation into the mold of a plurality of spaced sleeve members 330, the molding of the coherent sponge structure about the sleeve members 330 and the subsequent cutting of the individual sub- :assemblies whereby the latter step can again be made in one operation by a suitably shaped die cutting the thus molded sponge into the predetermined number of individual sub-assemblies.

FIGURE 8 shows in exploded cross section the liquid seal in accordance with the present invention, as disclosed in my prior Patent 3,187,365. The sponge-receiving section 204 is provided with a radial bore 205. The liquid seal, properly speaking, which is of the hydrodynamic type, i.e., without any movable parts, is constituted by two substantially oppositely directed relatively narrow conduits or channels interconnected with each other and extending from bore 205 to bore 228. In the illustrated embodiment, these oppositely directed, relatively narrow channels or conduit sections are constituted by complementary surface portions of the external surface of the g sponge-receiving section 204 and the internal surface of the sleeve member 220. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve-receiving member 220 is provided with oppositely directed relatively shallow grooves 223a and 22317 connected with each other at the lower end by the connecting conduit portion 223c. Appropriate means are provided so that when the sleeve member 220 is tightly mounted over the sponge-receiving section 204, the bore 205 is aligned with the upper end of the conduit section 223a. In this manner, when the dispensing mechanism 260 is actuated, liquid flows through bore 205, the conduit sections constituted by the groove portions 223a, 2230, 223]) and the external surface of the sponge-receiving section 204 and through bore 228, and thereafter through either bore 231 or through bores 331 into the sponge. In the absence of actuation of the dispensing mechanism 260 the liquid seal constituted by the complementary surface portions of the external surface of the sponge-receiving section 204 and the internal surface of the sleeve member 220 prevents the escape of any liquid into the sponge. The sponge-supporting sleeve members 230 or 330 are then mounted over the sleeve member 220 as described above.

While I have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, for example, securing element 263 may be secured by a snap-action press fit and/ or the parts 220 and 230 may be provided with complementary circularly shaped external and internal surfaces and/0r part 230 may then be threadably secured at the handle body similar to FIGURES 6 and 7, and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sponge handle assembly for supporting thereon a sponge which forms a reservoir for liquid soap, detergent or the like and which is operable to selectively discharge the liquid into the sponge, comprising:

a main handle body which is hollow at least over part of its length and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving portion,

cap means closing said one end of the main handle body,

sleeve means mounted over the sponge receiving portion of said main handle body,

means in said assembly for discharging the liquid from said reservoir to the sponge including first cross bore means in the sponge receiving portion of said main handle body, second cross bore means in said sleeve means and liquid seal means connecting the first cross bore means in the sponge receiving portion with the second cross bore means in said sleeve means and operable substantially exclusively by principles of hydraulics to prevent the discharge of the liquid through said second cross bore means in the absence of pressure on the end of the liquid facing said open end,

and a sponge including a sponge-supporting frame provided with anchoring means embedded in said sponge mounted over said sleeve means, said sponge-supporting frame being provided with aperture means in alignment with said second cross bore means.

2. A sponge handle assembly for supporting thereon a sponge which forms a reservoir for liquid soap, detergent or the like and which is operable to selectively discharge the liquid into the sponge, comprising:

a main handle body which is hollow at least over part of its length and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving portion,

dispensing means for dispensing liquid from said reservoir including actuating means located on said main handle portion intermediate said open end and said sponge-receiving section,

cap means closing said one end of the main handle body,

sleeve means mounted over the sponge receiving portion of said main handle body,

means in said assembly for discharging the dispensed liquid from said reservoir to the sponge including first cross bore means in the sponge receiving portion of said main handle body, second cross bore means in said sleeve means and liquid seal means connecting the first cross bore means in the sponge-receiving portion with the second cross bore means in said sleeve means and operable substantially exclusively by principles of hydraulics to prevent the discharge of the liquid through said second cross bore means in the absence of pressure on the end of the liquid facing said open end,

:and a sponge including a sponge-supporting frame provided with anchoring means embedded in said sponge mounted over said sleeve means, said sponge supporting frame being provided with aperture means in alignment with said second cross bore means.

3. A sponge handle assembly for supporting thereon a sponge which forms a reservoir for liquid soap, detergent or the like and which is operable to selectively discharge the liquid into the sponge, comprising:

a main handle body which is hollow at least over part of its length and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving portion,

cap means closing said one end of the main handle body,

sleeve means mounted over the sponge receiving portion of said main handle body,

and means in said assembly for selectively discharging the liquid from said reservoir to the sponge including first cross bore means in the sponge receiving portion of said main handle body, second cross bore means in said sleeve means and liquid seal means connecting the first cross bore means in the sponge receiving portion with the second cross bore means in said sleeve means and operable substantially exclusively by principles of hydraulics to prevent the discharge of the liquid through said second cross bore means in the absence of pressure on the end of the liquid facing said open end,

said liquid seal means being constituted by substantially oppositely directed channel sections formed by complementary surface portions of the internal wall surfaces of said sleeve means and the external wall surfaces of said handle portion,

said channel sections being connected with each other at one end thereof and being in communication with a respective cross bore means at the other end there- 'of,

and a sponge including a sponge-supporting frame provided with anchoring means embedded in said sponge mounted over said sleeve means, said sponge-supporting frame being provided With aperture means in alignment with said second cross bore means.

4. A sponge handle assembly for supporting thereon a sponge which forms a reservoir for liquid soap, detergent or the like and which is operable to selectively discharge the liquid into the sponge, comprising:

a main handle body which is hollow at least over part of its length and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving portion,

dispensing means for dispensing liquid from said reser voir including actuating means located on said main handle portion intermediate said open end and said sponge-receiving section,

cover means closing said one end of the main handle body, said cover means being adapted to be opened for filling said reservoir from the open end thereof, and

means in said assembly for discharging the dispensed liquid from said reservoir to the sponge including liquid seal means having relatively narrow, oppositely directed conduit sections connected in series between said reservoir and said sponge and operable substantially exclusively by principles of hydraulics to prevent the discharge of the liquid.

5. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a main body portion which is hollow and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving section,

a sponge including sponge-supporting frame means mounted over said sponge-receiving section,

closure means secured to said one end of the main handle body,

liquid seal means operable substantially exclusively on principles of hydraulics provided in said sponge receiving section to establish a communication between said reservoir and the sponge externally mounted over said sponge-receiving section including oppo sitely directed channel means connected in series between said reservoir and said sponge,

and means for selectively dispensing liquid from said reservoir to said sponge by way of said channel means by applying a pressure to the end of the liquid column facing the closure means.

6. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a main body portion which is hollow and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving section,

a sponge including sponge-supporting frame means mounted over said sponge-receiving section,

closure means secured to said one end of the main handle body,

liquid seal means operable substantially exclusively on principles of hydraulics provided in said sponge receiving section to establish a communication between said reservoir and the sponge externally mounted over said sponge-receiving section including oppositely directed channel means connected in series between said reservoir and said sponge,

and means for selectively dispensing liquid from said reservoir to said sponge by way of said channel means by applying a pressure to the end of the liquid column facing the closure means, said selective dispensing means being located along said main body portion intermediate said open end and said sponge receiving section.

7. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a main body portion which is hollow and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid.

liquid seal means operable substantially exclusively on principles of hydraulics provided in said sponge receiving section to establish a communication between said reservoir and the sponge externally mounted over said sponge-receiving section including oppositely directed channel means,

and means for selectively dispensing liquid from said reservoir to said sponge by way of said channel means by applying a pressure to the end of the liquid column facing the closure means, said selective dispensing means being located along said main body portion intermediate said open end and said sponge receiving section including plunger type actuating means and means providing a sealed communication between said plunger type actuating means and said open end.

8. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a main body portion which is hollow and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving section,

a sponge including sponge-supporting frame means,

mounted over said sponge-receiving section,

closure means secured to said one end of the main handle body,

liquid seal means operable substantially exclusively on principles of hydraulics provided in said sponge receiving section to establish a communication between said reservoir and the sponge externally mounted over said sponge receiving section including oppositely directed channel means,

and means for selectively dispensing liquid from said reservoir to said sponge by way of said channel means by applying a pressure to the end of the liquid column facing said closure means,

said frame means including a body .of substantially complementary configuration to the external configuration of said sponge receiving section, and substantially radially extending web means adapted to anchor within the sponge.

9. A combined handle and sponge assembly, comprising a main body portion which is hollow and forms on the inside thereof a reservoir for the liquid,

said main handle body being open at one end thereof and forming on the opposite end thereof a sponge receiving section,

a sponge including sponge-supporting frame means mounted over said sponge-receiving section,

closure means secured to said one end of the main handle body.

liquid seal means operable substantially exclusively on principles of hydraulics provided in said sponge receiving section to establish a communication between said reservoir and the sponge externally mounted over said sponge-receiving section including oppositely directed channel means connected in series between said reservoir and said sponge,

and means for selectively dispensing liquid from said reservoir to said sponge by way of said channel means by applying a pressure to the end of the liquid column facing the closure means, said selective dispensing means being located along said main body portion intermediate said open end and said sponge receiving section including plunger type actuating means and means providing a sealed communication between said plunger type actuating means and said open end,

said frame means including a body of substantially complementary configuration to the external configuration of said sponge receiving section, and substantially radially extending web means adapted to anchor within the sponge.

10. A sponge handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sponge-supporting frame is spaced from the external surface of said sleeve means at least within the area of said second cross bore means in such a manner as to form a liquid distribution channel.

11. A sponge handle assembly according to claim 16, I

wherein said liquid distribution channel extends over the length of the sponge supporting frame to enable the discharge of the liquid into the sponge substantially in the longitudinal direction.

12. A sponge handle assembly according to claim 16, wherein said liquid distribution channel extends substantially in the circumferential direction and said sponge supporting frame is provided with several aperture means within the circumferential extent thereof.

13. A sponge handle assembly according to claim 3, wherein said sponge supporting frame has internal surface portions of such configuration as to provide with the external surface of the sleeve means a liquid distribution channel through which liquid can fiow into the sponge.

14, A sponge handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said liquid distribution channel extends in the longitudinal direction of said sponge supporting frame.

15. A sponge handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said liquid distribution channel extends substantially in the circumferential direction of the sponge supporting frame, and a plurality of aperture means being provided within the area of the circumferential extent of said liquid distribution channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,430 12/1956 Moutt 15549 2,976,560 3/1961 Turner 15569 3,128,493 4/1964 Paul 15-542 3,161,905 12/1964 Dryden 15-567 3,199,139 8/1965 Walles 15-532 FOREIGN PATENTS 893,496 4/ 1962 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. S. E. BECK, E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiners. 

5. A COMBINED HANDLE AND SPONGE ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING A MAIN BODY PORTION WHICH IS HOLLOW AND FORMS ON THE INSIDE THEREOF A RESERVOIR FOR THE LIQUID, SAID MAIN HANDLE BODY BEING OPEN AT ONE END THEREOF AND FORMING ON THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF A SPONGE RECEIVING SECTION, A SPONGE INCLUDING SPONGE-SUPPORTING FRAME MEANS MOUNTED OVER SAID SPONGE-RECEIVING SECTION, CLOSURE MEANS SECURED TO SAID ONE END OF THE MAIN HANDLE BODY, LIQUID SEAL MEANS OPERABLE SUBSTANTIALLY EXCLUSIVELY ON PRINCIPLES OF HYDRAULICS PROVIDED IN SAID SPONGE RECEIVING SECTION TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID RESERVOIR AND THE SPONGE EXTERNALLY MOUNTED OVER SAID SPONGE-RECEIVING SECTION INCLUDING OPPOSITELY DIRECTED CHANNEL MEANS CONNECTED IN SERIES BETWEEN SAID RESERVOIR AND SAID SPONGE AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY DISPENSING LIQUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO SAID SPONGE BY WAY OF SAID CHANNEL MEANS BY APPLYING A PRESSURE TO THE END OF THE LIQUID COLUMN FACING THE CLOSURE MEANS. 